PHOENIX — Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd said the Wildcats are starting over despite a Final Four run, as a roster loaded with elite freshmen, transfers and returning starters prepares for another national title push.
Lloyd described the offseason as “busy” Thursday and said he is looking forward to players arriving on campus in a few weeks to begin preparations for next season.
“I think one of the cool things is you kind of have to reset and you kind of have to redo,” Lloyd said about how the team can build off last season’s success. “You have to be willing to do all the hard things over again. Just because you had a good year the previous year, doesn’t mean that you start a step or two ahead.
“So I just think respecting how hard the process is and kind of getting back to your day ones, your basics and building from there.”
Arizona’s ability to blend veteran continuity with elite incoming talent could determine whether last season’s Final Four run becomes the foundation of sustained national contention under Lloyd.
Last season’s starters Ivan Kharchenkov and Motiejus Krivas are both returning, while shooting guard Caleb Holt, the nation’s No. 2 recruit, and Millennium High School four-star guard Cam Holmes headline Lloyd’s incoming high school class.
Arizona addressed its need for backcourt depth and frontcourt size in the portal, adding guards Derek Dixon and JJ Mandaquit alongside big men Ugnius Jarusevicius and Evan Otten.
Dutch center Endurance Aiyamenkhue, who is 6-foot-11, also joins the program from the German professional ranks, while Bryce James and Mabil Mawut will return for their sophomore seasons.
Holt is expected to compete for a starting role immediately and could become Arizona’s primary perimeter scorer after the Wildcats lost significant offensive production in Brayden Burries (16.1 PPG) and Jaden Bradley (13.3 PPG) from last season’s Final Four team.
“First off, we’ve recruited (Holt and Holmes) for the last couple years, so we know they’re great players, and they’re great young men,” Lloyd said of the incoming freshmen. “I think they’re both going to have the ability to come in and contribute right away.”
Although Lloyd has not yet coached Holt or Holmes on the court at Arizona, he is familiar with both players.
Lloyd coached Holt on a USA Basketball U19 team that won the 2025 FIBA World Cup in Switzerland.
“I mean, you’re getting a first class person,” Lloyd said of Holt. “He’s got an infectious personality. He’s got a lot of energy. He’s a lot of fun. He’s a ferocious competitor, and he’s a guy that literally does it naturally every single day.”
Holmes made an impression on Lloyd despite being cut from the U19 roster during tryouts.
“And we feel the same way about Cam Holmes,” Lloyd said. “He comes with great spirit, great energy and it’s infectious, and the settings where I’ve been with Cam on the court and some USA Basketball tryouts, I was just really impressed.
“And everyone walks away loving him as a person and loving playing with him. So, I think those two freshmen are going to be a really important part of our season this coming year.”
Tommy Lloyd praises new ASU coach Randy Bennett
Lloyd also offered high praise for new Sun Devils coach Randy Bennett, calling the hiring “a great move by Arizona State.”
Lloyd’s history with Bennett dates to West Coast Conference matchups between Gonzaga and Saint Mary’s. Lloyd spent 20 seasons as Mark Few’s assistant at Gonzaga, while Bennett spent 25 seasons as Saint Mary’s head coach.
“It’ll be an honor to compete against him again.”
Arizona Wildcats men’s basketball coach Tommy Lloyd said he’s developed a relationship with new ASU coach Randy Bennett over the years. pic.twitter.com/sTu0JHLgNi
— David Veenstra (@veenstra_david) May 22, 2026
“Randy’s obviously a coach I respect a lot, and that respect was built through competing against him,” Lloyd said. “And now that I came down here the past five years, he and I have struck up a relationship and we’ve scrimmaged a number of times and just really respect what he’s doing.
Lloyd added, “It’ll be an honor to compete against him again.
“They’re going to have an identity. I don’t know if he’s going to try to change that coming to a new spot or not. I mean that remains to be seen, but I know this — whatever he does it’ll be solid and well coached, and they’ll be convicted, and they’ll have a full understanding of what it takes to win with their team.”
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